NT_082318

58 | August 23, 2018 | The Northbrook tower football preview guide 2018
northbrooktower.com
Spartans set sights on conference title, return to playoffs
Martin Carlino, Editor
Following a 2017 season
that ended with a disappointing
5-4 record, the
Spartans are heading into
this season with a focus on
returning to a familiar spot
for the program — the top
of the Central Suburban
North standings.
Injuries to key players
on both sides of the
ball and a roster lacking
experience factored into
the atypical finish for the
Spartans, but head coach
Bob Pieper knows last
season’s difficulties built
valuable experience for
this year’s group.
“As young as we were
last year, a lot of kids got
experience,” Pieper said.
“The two things that hurt
us last year were youth
and injuries. ... A 5-4 [record]
is unacceptable for
our program as we’ve said
many times. Not making
the playoffs is unacceptable,
but we did get a lot of
playing times from guys,
so when there was injuries,
the next guy had to step
up and play and they happened
to be young guys.”
With the hope of reversing
last season’s script,
this year’s team filled summer
workouts and practices
with an increased sense
of urgency, led by senior
captains Nick Mantas, Ben
Kieffer and Ethan Quayle.
“We’ve been working
really hard,” Mantas said.
“We’ve been trying to put
in some work in the weight
room and work harder on
the field than last year. We
were definitely disappointed
with how things ended
last year, so we don’t want
our senior year to end like
last year did. We’re putting
in the work to make sure
that doesn’t happen.”
With the season nearing,
the team leaders have set a
clear goal for this year.
“Winning conference
is the big thing this year,”
Kieffer said. “Everyone
around here just knows
that. ... Overall, we have
the team to win conference.”
Offense
The Glenbrook North
offense returns six of 11
starters from its 2017 unit
that averaged 24 points per
game.
The departures of Jimmy
Karfis, Chris Heywood
and Davu Keels — three of
the Spartans biggest offensive
contributors in 2017
— creates the opportunity
for a new group of leaders
to step up on offense. And,
at the helm of that group
is Quayle, who projects to
be a key cog in GBN’s offense.
Quayle anticipates
the team will tighten up
its offensive play from last
year.
“Leadership-wise on offense,
I think we’re going
to be better,” he said. “I
think we just have to limit
the mistakes this year. We
had a lot of penalties last
year that set us off. We’re
going to fix that and we’re
going to be better at that
for sure.”
The role of Chris Park
in the team’s offense was
limited last season because
of injuries, but Pieper anticipates
he’ll also be part
of the team’s backfield.
“Chris played for us last
year and got some reps
as a junior when Jimmy
[Karfis] was out ... he’s got
some experience as well, so
we’ll be looking for Chris
to do some things this
year as well as some other
guys,” he said. According
Senior captain Ethan Quayle bursts through an opening during the 2017 season.
Quayle is among the players head coach Bob Pieper expects to make an impact this
season. 22nd Century Media File Photo
to Pieper, the offense has
not yet determined a starting
quarterback, largely
because of the impressive
play from Tibor Klein,
Dylan Buckner and Ben
Foster, the three players
fighting for the spot.
“They’re all fighting and
they’re all doing a good
job,” Pieper said.
At wide receiver, the
Spartans return three receivers
from last year’s
group. Kieffer, who was
primarily a defensive back
last season, will also spend
time on offense this season,
per Pieper.
“[Ben] showed last year
with his interceptions and
ball-hawking that he can
play receiver and he can
catch the ball, so we’ll use
him when we can,” Pieper
said.
The team’s offensive
line will return three of its
five starters from 2017.
Defense
A group that lacked experience
last season is now
one filled with just that.
GBN’s defense will have
a familiar look as seven
starters are slated to return
this season.
Starting corners Max
Luc and Kieffer will return
to man the Spartan defensive
backfield this season.
“We have both of our
corners back with Max
Luc and Ben Keiffer, so
hopefully after playing
nine games on that side of
the ball, they understand
what we’re looking for on
defense and shutting those
things down on the outside,”
Pieper said.
One of the team’s major
departures is standout linebacker
Skyler Metzger,
who led the team with 74
tackles. Despite losing
Metzger, Pieper is excited
to see what this year’s linebacking
group will bring.
“We’ve got three of four
back there as well,” he
said. “Anytime you lose a
guy like Skyler, it’s going
to hurt. ... Somebody will
step up and step in.”
Returning players on the
defensive line, as well as
the offensive line, is one
element of this year’s team
that Pieper feels is imperative.
“That’s huge [for us],”
he said. “Everything starts
up front. We talk about
blocking and tackling every
day. Everyone can talk
about whatever they want
with X’s and O’s and teams
and schemes, but it’s about
blocking and tackling. So
having three of the five
back on offense and two of
the four back on defense
up front helps us a lot.”
Key returns and
losses
Key returns
DB/WR Ben Kieffer
— finished with
five interceptions last
season and projects to
be a part of the team’s
offense this season
RB/DB Ethan Quayle
— the Spartans will
look to Quayle as one
of the key options on
offense
OL/DL Nick Mantas —
will lead the Spartans
offensive live, which
returns three of five
starters from last
season
RB/LB Chris Park —
showcased his explosiveness
early last season,
but was limited
because of injuries
Key losses
RB Jimmy Karfis — 845
all-purpose yards, nine
touchdowns
WR/RB Chris Heywood
— 11 offensive touchdowns
in 2017
WR Davu Keels —
team-leading 31 receptions
LB — Skyler Metzger —
74 tackles last season
Special Teams
The return of his kicker
and punter from last season,
mixed with a range of
skill-position players has
Pieper pleased with how
the Spartans shape up on
special teams.
GBN’s strong mix of talent
from its position players
should make for a productive
special teams unit.
Per Pieper, the Spartans
return several players who
played on “the front wall”
of the field goal and extra
point units.
“We’ve got some guys
back who have been there
and done that,” he said.
“So we just have to find
the rest of the pieces of the
puzzle.”